| New York has always been considered the gateway | | | | Pay tribute to a Beatle: John Lennon |
| to America, where millions of immigrants began their | | | | Visit Strawberry Fields in Central Park, the garden that |
| exciting new life after arriving from the Old World. The | | | | honours iconic Beatle John Lennon and features a |
| current superb exchange rate against the dollar, the | | | | simple circular mosaic containing the word "Imagine"; |
| bountiful night-life, numerous museums, and great | | | | the title of Lennon's worldwide hit song. A short walk |
| restaurants aside; here are five of the best reasons to | | | | away at 1 West 72nd Street you'll find the Dakota |
| visit the city that never sleeps. | | | | apartment building, his former home outside which he |
| See where it all started: Ellis Island & the Statue of | | | | was murdered on the 8th December 1980. It is a |
| Liberty | | | | poignant experience, even if you are not a Beatle fan. |
| Millions of original immigrants to the New World arrived | | | | Seasonal ice skating: in front of the Rockefeller Centre |
| by ship, their application for residence status | | | | Every Christmas since 1936 the ice rink has been a |
| processed at Ellis Island before they continued on to | | | | feature of the lower plaza of the Rockefeller Centre |
| their new life in America, or for the small unlucky | | | | and a leading New York attraction. Pull on your skates |
| percentage refused entry, a forced return to their | | | | and glide gracefully under the giant Christmas tree, or |
| homeland. Beside it is Liberty Island; home to one of | | | | merely watch skaters of all abilities enjoying |
| New York's enduring landmarks: the iconic Statue of | | | | themselves on the ice. |
| Liberty. A ferry from Battery Park at the tip of | | | | Basketball: Watch the Knicks |
| Manhattan will take you to both islands, but if you want | | | | New York's NBA team the Knicks have their home at |
| to glimpse the New York skyline from Liberty's crown | | | | Madison Square Garden, which is close to Grand |
| you will need to catch the first boat of the day due to | | | | Central Station and the best-placed hotels in |
| a limitation on the number of visitors allowed to the top | | | | Manhattan for sight-seeing. Tickets are hard to get and |
| each day. | | | | extremely expensive, but the experience is worth it! |
| Climb to the top: New York from above | | | | Join the mass of celebrities and ordinary fans that |
| Two of the worlds' most iconic buildings tower over | | | | have made the Knicks their favourites at one of their |
| New York; the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings. | | | | regular home games played between October and |
| One is the tallest, and the other the most recognizable | | | | June. |
| skyscraper in New York and both have featured in | | | | So there you have it; five of five hundred (and more!) |
| many films and TV series over the years. The Empire | | | | reasons why you should pack your bags, jump on a |
| State, topped by its huge mast originally built as a | | | | plane and take a big bite from the Big Apple; and with |
| mooring for Zeppelins and the Chrysler with its shiny | | | | the mighty pound currently thrashing a weakened |
| aluminum and glass exterior make both instantly | | | | dollar, there's never been a better value time to head |
| recognisable. From the top of the Empire State there | | | | over the pond. |
| are fantastic vistas of Manhattan and beyond. | | | | |